cupbearers

Persians also had a reputation for taking Turkish boys as their 'cupbearers' and lovers often openly expressing their love for them using this form of poetry.

languagehat.com: GHASELIG. 2004

When a democracy which is thirsting for freedom has evil cupbearers presiding over the feast, and has drunk too deeply of the strong wine of freedom, then, unless her rulers are very amenable and give a plentiful draught, she calls them to account and punishes them, and says that they are cursed oligarchs.

Allan Jenkins' Desirable Roasted Coffee 2008

So she tuned the lute and sang with a ravishing melody; whilst Mohammed al-Amin fell to drinking and jollity and bade the cupbearers ply

The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

When he had eaten, he said, “Give us some thing to drink, O Ali;” and the host set before him, in vessels of gold and silver and crystal, raisin wine boiled down to one third with fruits and spices; and the cupbearers were pages like moons, clad in garments of Alexandrian stuff interwoven with gold and bearing on their breasts beakers of crystal, full of rose water mingled with musk.

The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

Sewers 171 and cupbearers heard the ring of swords, and full many a one cast from his hand the drink and whatever food he bare to court.

The Nibelungenlied 2007

In the 1300s, a pharaoh ordered one of his vassals in Canaan to buy him forty “extremely beautiful” female cupbearers; he sent silver weighing sixteen hundred shekels, forty per woman, as well as an escort of archers to bring them back to Egypt.

The Trojan War Barry Strauss 2006

In the 1300s, a pharaoh ordered one of his vassals in Canaan to buy him forty “extremely beautiful” female cupbearers; he sent silver weighing sixteen hundred shekels, forty per woman, as well as an escort of archers to bring them back to Egypt.

The Trojan War Barry Strauss 2006

May I not say that the usual tether of this class, in the way of carnifers, cupbearers, and the rest, does not reach beyond neat-handed Phyllis and the greengrocer? and that Phyllis, neat-handed as she probably is, and the greengrocer, though he be ever so active, cannot administer a dinner to twelve people who are prohibited by a Medo – Persian law from all self-administration whatever?

Framley Parsonage 2004

One night there was a banquet, and cupbearers carried round gold and silver cups of sparkling wine, and singers with sweetest voices contended for the prize.

The Brown Fairy Book 2003

Then she called to the cupbearers for new wine, for she thought that when his head was hot with it he might consent to stay.

The Brown Fairy Book 2003